Walker or toy vehicle



Feb., 22, 1949. A RODRIQUEZ 2,462,814

WALKER 0R TOY VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1945 WALKER 0R TOY VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1945 Patented F eb. 22, 1949 WALKER R TOY VEHICLE Alfred Rodriquez, Chicago, Ill., assigner to James F. Barnes, Jean O. Reinecke, Margaret M. Barnes, and Esther Reinecke, Chicago, lll.

Application August 17, 1945, Serial No. 610,965

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a walker or toy vehicle. It is particularly useful in connection with a structure simulating a pony or animal which the child may ride.

An object of the invention is to provide an eX- tremely simple and sturdy structure which is attractive to a child learning to walk and which enables the child through the flexing of a spring body structure of the walker to move across the floor. A further object is to provide a toy vehicle in the shape of a pony or other lselected animal and in the operation of which the child is given the impression that he is riding the animal. Yet another object is to provide a structure in which two wheel-equipped body members are connected by a spring covered by a flexible element and in which the flexing of the spring causes a movement of the structure. Other specic objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment, lby the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of a structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an enlarged detailed and longitudinal section of the seat portion of the structure; Fig. 3, a top plan View; and Fig. 4, a rear view in elevation.

In the illustration given, A designates a rear body portion; B a forward body portion; C a spring connecting the portions A and B; and D a head portion.

The structure A may be formed of any suitable material such as wood, molded products, or sheet metal, etc. In the illustration given, a rigid body lstructure A is formed of sheet metal and comprises an upper body portion I9 and a leg portion I I. The upper body portion I0 has a top wall I2 which is preferably struck upwardly at I'3 and downwardly at I4 being slotted at I5 to receive the spring member C. A tail i6 is secured to the upper body portion I!! to increase the simulation to a pony. The lower body portion II forms legs which are wide near their bottom and receive a shaft II. The shafts I! are equipped on the inner sides with washers I8 and extend laterally to support the wheels I8. The wheels I9 are preferably formed of pressed metal parts formed in halves and secured together, each of the wheels being provided with a rubber tire 20.

The forward body portion B is constructed very much the same as the rear body portion A. The top wall 2| is struck upwardly at 22 and then along a horizontal plane at 23, being turned down at 24 at a spaced distance from the downwardly turned ange I4 of the member A. 'Ihe portion 24 is also slotted at 25 to receive the spring C. The member B is provided with rigid legs 26 similar to legs II of structure A and each of the legs 25 carries a tire-equipped wheel 53 on a shaft extending laterally of the leg.

The spring C, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, is received within the depression formed by the Walls I2 and 2l' and extends through the slots in flanges I4 and 24. It is shown secured by rivets 2l to the wall I2 and by rivets 23 to the wall 23. Over the seat thus provided by the members l2 and 23 and the spring C is placed a exible body 29 which may consist of a pad or a rubber or other resilient body. In the illustration given, a saddle portion 2S of the structure is formed by a thick mat of rubber, but it will .be understood that any iiexible cushioning lbody may be employed.

The head D of the structure shown is designed to simulate the appearance of the head of a pony. It may be formed of wood or other suitable material and secured to the wall 2l by the screws 30 which pass through washers 3|. The head may be equipped with a handle 34, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. It will be understood that instead of a structure resembling the neck and head of a pony, a structure may be used to approach the appearance of any other selected animal or device. In the structure shown, 32 designates the mane of the pony and 33 the ears.

In the operation of the device, the child, who is learning to Walk or who is playing with the toy, sits upon the saddle 29 and by raising and lowering his weight in the saddle flexes the spring C, thus permitting the angular shifting of the body members A and B. The springequipped legs II and 25 are thus separated and the flexing of the spring serves to Whip them toward each other after each separating operation with the result that the pony toy can be made to move in a forward direction or by shifting of weight, in a rearward direction. The Wide flexing spring permits a variety of effects to be obtained as the child shifts its weight forwardly and rearwardly on the saddle. The result of the operation is that the child gives the appearance of riding the toy pony and the pony tends to move forwardly or rearwardly under the spring flexing movements.

The laterally spaced wheels I9 provide an unusually sturdy base which will prevent tipping of the toy while at the same time a greater space is provided for the childs legs in reaching the oor. The inwardly inclined walls of the structures l and 2| provide at the area where the spring C is located a substantial constricted seat portion, thus providing a relatively wide space between the wheels for the child to move his legs Y freely.

While in the foregoing specification I have set forth details as illustrating one embodiment of the invention, it will be understood, that such details may be modified widely without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A walker toy, comprising a pair of body members tapering inwardly toward each other to provide a constriction in the central portion of the toy, a spring connecting said body members at the meeting ends thereof, wheel-equipped leg members extending downwardly from the wide end portions of said body members, and seat portions carried by said body members and extending on either side of said constriction in the central portion thereof, said seat portions having their top portions lying substantially in the same plane when said spring is unlexed, said toy being movable in a forward direction and in a rearward direction when the operator shifts his weight from one seat portion to the other seat portion operated byy said constriction.

2. A walker toy, comprising a pair of body members. tapering inwardly toward each other to provide a constriction, wheel-equipped leg members extending downwardly from said body members, a spring connecting'said body members, said body members providing seat portions on opposite sides of said constriction which lie in substantially the same plane when said spring is unfiexed, and a resilient cushion extending over said constricted portion to provide a seat on opposite sides of said constriction, said cushion having a top surface which is substantially straight to permit the operator to shift from one side to the other of said constriction, whereby in the depressing and releasing of said spring, said tog7 is caused to go in forward and backward'directions. v,

ALFRED RODRIQUEZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Country Date Germany Sept. 14, 1922 France Dec. 1, 1925 Number Number 

